Collapsible rack.



L. F. B. ARNOLD.

COLLAPSIBLE RACK.

APPLICATION TILED 001:.14, 1912.

1 ,109,953, Patented Sept. 8, 1914,

n15 NORRIS PETERS 60.. micro l.| n10 WASHING TON. 0 C

LYDIA F. B. ARNOLD, OF OSHKOSI-I, WISCONSIN.

COLLAPSIBLE RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

Application filed October 14, 1912. Serial No. 725,734.

To all alt/ 20m it may concern Be it known that I, LYDIA F. B. ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Racks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same- This invention relates to improvements in collapsible racks especially designed for use on the backs of church pews. theater or hall chairs to support hats and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and etlicient device of this character which may be quickly opened for use, or collapsed and disposed flat against the seat back or other support when not in use.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of this improved rack in open position ready for use; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rack collapsed; Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of one end of the rack-locking element for holding it in open position; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment illustrated, an attaching stationary plate 1 is shown adapted to be secured by suitable fastening elements to a support 52 such as the back of a chair or bench. To one face of this plate 1 a plurality of longitudinally spaced foldable arms 3 in the form of straps or bars the flat faces of which lie in the same plane as the flat faces of the attaching plate and are hinged or pivoted at one end as shown at lto swing in either direction and to extend at right angles to the plate when in open position. These arms 3 may be spaced any desired distance apart, being preferably ar ranged close enough together to support a mans hat or asmall article. 'lhe flat faces of the arms or bars 3 being arranged in the same plane as those of the plate 1 present their edges to receive and support an article and when so positioned offer greater resistance and hence are less liable to break or bend than when arranged-with their flat faces to receive the weight of the article to be supported. The outer ends of these arms are pivotally connected to a link 5 and these ends are preferably spaced apart the same distance as their inner ends so that when the rack is opened to operative position, it will assume a substantially rectangular shape.

As my invention is especially intended for use on theater seats and church pews, I find it essential that all sharp edges and projections be eliminated, therefore to meet this contingency I dispose the bar 5 edgewise so that only its smooth flat'surface is presented for contact and in addition, I also round the edges of said bar 5, thus avoiding sharp corners.

A brace 6 in the form of a link is pivoted at one end to one of the end arms 3 at a point spaced from its inner end and has an aperture 7 at its free end for detachable engagement with a hook 8 secured to the support 2 at a suitable distance from said end arm, whereby the rack is held extended in operative position and accidental collapse thereof prevented.

A revoluble hook 9 is secured to the support to which the bracket is attached at a point spaced from the end opposite the end carrying the brace and which is adapted to be turned into position to engage the bar or rod 5, when the rack is collapsed to hold it in collapsed position as shown in Fig. 2.

In the use of this improved rack the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2, the hook 9 is turned to disengage it from the link 5 and the rack is opened by exerting an outward pull on said bar or link 5 until the arms 3 extend at right angles to the attaching plate 1 and when in this position the apertured end of the link 6 is engaged with the hook 8, whereby the rack is securely held in open position as shown in Fig. 1, and it may be used to support umbrellas, hats or other articles as may be desired.

From the above description it will be obvious that this rack will be especially useful when attached to the backs of church pews,

theater seats and the like to support ladies hats, wraps and such like articles, and that it may open in either direction being thereby reversible.

l/Vhile I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards details and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly any more than is pointed out in the claim. On the contrary, I contemplate all. proper changes in form, construction and arrangement, the omission of immaterial elements and substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient.

I claim. as my invention In combination with a, support, of a rack composed oi? i'lut pmrellel side members, one of said members being secured to said support, the other being spaced therefrom, said spaced member having its extremities slightly rounded, end bars rectangular in cross section and disposed edgewise, said bars having their extremities hingedly connected with the rounded extremities of said spaced members and With said support, intermediate cross burs similarly formed and disposed, the latter having their ends hingedly connected at points equidistant on said members, said bars and members being in the same plane and forming when eX- tended into open position a cornerless rectungulur rack and when folded the list feces oi? the bars and side members contact and occupy a comparatively small space, s, ro' tutuble hool: secured to the support for engagement Wit-,1 one end of the hinged spaced member, 2, combined brace and link, one end of which is morebly secured to one of said end bars, and a hook projecting); rom the support and udzqited to be engage 'ith on eye formed on the free end of Sand brace, whereby the former is held in an open and rigid position.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LYDIA F. B. I'LRNQLD. lVitncsses JOHN W. HUME, OLIVE E. ARNOLD.

Home! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

